Dive into the heart and soul of Austin blues with "Austin Blues: The Austin Blues Monthly and Lone Star Interviews" by Randy "Tex" Hill. Hill's journey began not as a mission to rewrite history but as a simple desire to celebrate the music he loved. Through Austin Blues Monthly, a labor of love driven by his graphic design skills, Hill embarked on a DIY exploration of the blues scene, capturing the genre's essence through intimate Q&A sessions with local luminaries.
 
For three impactful years in the 1990s, Hill's magazine served as a platform for conversations with blues legends and rising stars alike. From chance encounters with Jimmie Vaughan to insights from Clifford Antone, Marc Benno, and Billy Gibbons, Hill's interviews offer a panoramic view of Austin blues and its wider cultural roots.
 
But this book is more than just a chronicle of Austin's blues scene. Through candid discussions, artists paint a vivid picture of their musical journeys, from Port Arthur to Chicago, Ottawa to Houston. Hill's anecdotes, from his rural Texas upbringing to his serendipitous encounters with music icons, add depth and authenticity to the narrative.

With each page turn, readers are transported to smoky clubs and vibrant jam sessions, experiencing the raw emotion and unfiltered stories that define the blues. While not an exhaustive record, "Austin Blues" captures a pivotal moment in the city's musical history, offering a nostalgic glimpse into a bygone era of grassroots journalism and musical passion.
 
For enthusiasts of blues music and cultural history alike, "Austin Blues" is a must-read, a testament to the enduring legacy of a genre that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. So, grab a copy, sink into your favorite armchair, and let the rhythm of Austin blues carry you away.

RANDY “TEX” HILL began playing drums as a young boy growing up on a central Texas farm approximately 30 miles south of Austin. As a child, he was introduced to a variety of music via a stack of old 78s that belonged to his grandfather: artists like, B.B. King, Smiley Lewis, Bobby Lord, Gene Autry, The Old Smoky Twins and Lefty Frizzell. Trips to the Club 21 dance hall in nearby Uhland, Texas on Saturday nights with his parents sowed the seeds of a lifetime love of Texas music and helped launch him into a varied career in music that has lasted for over 40 years. In 2018 Tex was inducted into the Sacramento Western Swing Society Hall of Fame. In 2016 he was awarded “DJ of The Year” by the Cowtown Western Music Society of Fort Worth Texas. In 2015 Tex was named one of the Top 10 DJs in the country by the Academy of Western Artists, and in 2014 Hill was inducted into the Northwest Western Swing Music Hall of Fame in Auburn, Washington. ​He lives with his wife Dawn, in Austin, Texas